Princes of the Apocalypse

Minor Factions

A number of minor factions also seek influence in the Dessarin Valley: the elves of the High Forest, the Hand of Yartar, the Knights of Samular, and the Uthgardt tribes.

Description:

Elves of the High Forest. The High Forest once
sheltered three great elven realms beneath its boughs.
Many tribes of wood elves—and a few moon elves—still
protect the ruined monuments to their golden age. Few
beyond the borders of the High Forest know much about
these elves; they have no single leader and make little
contact with the outside world.
The wood elf Morgwais, known as the Red Lady or
the Lady of the Wood, seeks to unite the disparate tribes
through the Caerilcarn (“Council of the Wood”). Her aim
is to resurrect the ancient kingdom of Eaerlann, and she
has made steps in that direction by allying various elven
settlements. As yet, though, only a few elves believe in
her vision, and they are spread far apart over the eastern
reaches of the forest.
The Emerald Enclave is friendly to the elves of
the High Forest. However, Morgwais has a troubled
history with Turlang, a treant leader of the enclave in
Shadowtop Cathedral.

The Hand of Yartar. The famous chronicler Volo
once said that everyone in Yartar is after money or
power—preferably both—in as short a time as possible.
The Harpers, the Lords’ Alliance, and the Zhentarim
compete within the city. The local thieves’ guild, the
Hand of Yartar, vies for a larger piece of the action,
but infighting has kept the guild from having much
influence.
Within the guild, a new and deadly group is
flourishing, comprising ambitious young female thieves
and assassins. They are masters of disguise and
infiltration, impersonating officials and commoners
alike in order to steal, bribe, and murder.
The Hand of Yartar might work with the Zhentarim
when it’s convenient for both parties.

The Knights of Samular. This order of paladins
dedicated to Tyr has pursued justice across the
North for over five hundred years (see chapter 3 for
more information). Its founder, Samular Caradoon,
built Summit Hall in the Sumber Hills as a training
monastery for the order. Young men and women across
the North travel to Summit Hall so that they might learn
from its aging heroes.
The Lady of the Hall, Ushien Stormbanner, is
sympathetic to the Order of the Gauntlet.

Uthgardt Tribes. For over a thousand years, the
barbarian humans of the Uthgardt tribes have roved
the North, holding to ancient customs of ritual and
taboo. They are notorious for their hatred of magic,
disavowal of any gods but their own, and hostility to
anyone not of their tribes. Most in the North consider
Uthgardt to be little better than orcs. Two tribes are the
most troublesome to folk of the Dessarin Valley: the
Tree Ghosts and the Elk. See chapter 2 for more about
the Uthgardt.